Sectional building construction



April 27,1926. T. H. KANE SECTIONAL BUILDING CONSTRUCTION Filed March 25, 1921 I 5 Sheets-Sheet a vllllllllllt '54:!!! ill! April 27 1926.

T H. KA NE SECTIONAL BUILDING GONS'TPRUC'IION 's sheetsrsheet 4 Filed March 25. 1921 A ril 27, 1926.

T. H. KANE SECTIONAL BUILDING CONSTRUCTION F iled March 25, 192 1 5 Sheets-Shea, 5

I gvwu x 6'0:-

Thomas 17.112026,

Patented Apr. 27, 19 26.

* UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS H. KANE, OF YOUNGSTOWN, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE TBUSCON STEEL Colt- PANY, OF YOUNGSTOWN, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF MICHIGAN. i

SEOTIONAL BUILDING CONSTRUCTION.

. Application filed March 25, 1921. Serial No. 455,424.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS H. KANE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Youngstown, in the county of Mahoni-ng and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Sectional Building Construction, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a novel construction for sectional buildings, permitting walls of any prescribed hei ht to be fabricated with facility and security by the use of interfitting-panel units of a typical shape and size, thereby more or less standardizing the factory stock and simplifying manufacture."

It is usually the practice in the erection of sectional metal buildings to use panels formed in one piece extending from the base to the eaves, that is of the full height of the 20 wall. This practice, however, involves the restriction of the height of the panels, and also requires carrying alarge stock of panels or units of varying sizes. Furthermore, it has been a custom to make the panels continuousfrom the sill of the building to the eaves, with only a vertical joint between adj acent panels which can only be made weather-tight by connecting the edges of the panels to the vertical columns or mullion bars 0 constituting the structural framing of the building, While this practice has been sue cessfully carried on in the erection of comparatively low buildings, it does not readiy lend itself to the erection of larger buil 5 ings such as factories, shops and the like, because of the limitations above referred to.

Accordingly, the. present invention contemplates the provison of a novel panel or wall forming unit which may be made in 0 sections of reasonable dimensions to facilitate handling and storing, and which also can be used in any desired number to attain the desired vertical height of the wall. At the same time the fabrication of the. wall 5 with these units automatically provides an effective weather-tight horizontal joint be tween each unit. In that connection a prin-' cipal object of the invention is the provision of a panel unit which will permit of estab- 0 lis'hing a thoroughly practical weather-tight horizontal joint during the process of assembling the units, thereby to enable the building to be expeditiously constructed to any height by simply stacking and interfitting the panels or sections one upon the other, between the framing parts or mullio'ns.

A'further and more specific object of the nvention is to provide a panel unit having its top and bottom ed e portions formed in a novel manner to facilitate the emplacement and interfitting of adjacent units by unskilled labor.

In that connection it may also be observed that the novel formation of the opposite edge portions of the unit re ferred to also involves suitable reinforcement to prevent buckling or warping durmg handling.

With the above and other objects in view which will more readily appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, the same consists in the novel construction, combmatron and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described, illustrated'and claimed. 7 k

Although the invention is necessarily susceptible of embodiment in difi'erent designs and forms of construction, a preferred and practical embodiment thereof is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which '7 Figure l is an elevation of the gable end of a building constructed in accordance with the present-invention.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the outsideof one of the panel units.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the inside of the anel unit shown in Figure 2.

Figure-4 1s a vertical sectional view showing a base panel unit and several superposed side wall panels interlocked horizontally '(section line H of Figure 1).

Figure 5 is a detail view of one of the panel units, partly in elevation and partly in section to clearly illustrate the structure of the top and bottom edges'of the unit.

F1g'ure 6 is a detail elevation of an uppercorner of a side wall forming panel unit showing more clearly the top ortenon edge thereof,

Figure 7 is a horizontal sectional View taken on the line 77 of Figure 1, the same -being enlarged. I

Figure 8 is a vertical sectional view on the line 8-8 of Figure 7.

Figure 9, is a side elevation of an eaves panel unit. i

Figure 10 is a front elevation of a flashtaken theside wall panels.

ing unit adapted for use over windows or like openings. s

' Figure 11 is a detail vertical sectional view of the flashing unit interlocked with one of Similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several figiiies of the drawings.

e present inventlon is particularly designed to'meet the requirements incident to the erection of a sectional metallic building of any general type, as shown in Figure 1 of the drawings for example, wherein it would be impractical to utilize wallhigh one-piece vertlcal panels of continuous len h -to attain the desired height of the b din To t at end, the invention (proposes to adopt a more or less standardize panel unit S having a novel formation at its top and bottom edge to provide an effective weathertight horizontal joint so that the units may be assembled in vertical relation to any desiredheight. One form of unit is clearly shown in Figures 2 and 3 of the drawings, and'inthat embodiment essentially consists of the body or body late 1 having the offset end flanges 2 an 3 provided with the channels 4 for interlocking with the vertical holding ribs 5 projecting from the opposite faces of the vertical columns or mullion bars 6 which constitute the vertical framework ofthe building. The said flanges 2 and 3 are also preferably provided on opposite sides ofthe channels 4 with suitable openings 7 for registering with corresponding openings 8 in the mullions, thereby to receive a suitable wedge bolt 9 having an opening 10 in the shank thereof for receiving a wedge key- 11, which, when driven into final position, securely holds the side flanges to the vertical frame parts and alsoprovides a weather-tight vertical joint.

The top edge portion of theend flan es 2 and 3 is preferably depressed inwar y as indicated at 12 thereby providing a clearance recess 12 for accommodating the lower edge of the end flange of a superposed unit as will presently appear, and also forming an abutment shoulder 13. The lower rear corners are cut away as shown at '12 in order to allow the interfitting of these depressed portions with the associated panels and allow the rear portions of the flan s to aline as shown in Fi ure 4. As c early shown in Fi res 2 an 3, the top edge 14 of the unit as formed adjacent thereto a horizontal holding bead 15 which is referably pressed out from the body 0 the panel and constitutes a key for interfitting with the mating keeper portion 16 of the closure skirt or flange 17 of a su erposed unit. The top edge portion of t e panel unit 1 is therefore constructed to perform the function of an interfitting tenon adapted nated as B in Figure 4 and E in to telescopically enter the bottom edge portion of a super sed unit.

As may be 0 early seen from Figures 2, 3 and 4 of the drawings, the lower edge of the panel unit, has the said closure skirt or flange portion 17 which terminates in the longitudinal keeper channel 16 adapted to engage over and receive within its groove the bead 15 above referred to, and as will be seen from Figure 4 when the units are assembled the portion 15' of a lower unit lying between the bead 15 and the edge 14 constitutes a tongue which overlaps the skirt portion 17 to provide a weather-tilght joint. For the purpose of assisting in ho ding and maintaining the said tongue portion 15 in interlocked relation with the said skirt 17, a suitable clamping angle plate 18 is preferably secured in any suitable manner as at 19 adjacent the lower edge of the unit at the inside, the same having the relatively resilient vertical clamping flange 20 for pressing the tongue 15 against the skirt 17, while the horizontal flange 21 thereof serves to impart lateral stiffness to the lower edge of the unit and materially braces and reinforces the same at this point.

It will now be seen that eachpanel unit S is provided with the offset end flanges 2 and 3 for interlocking with the vertical mullions or columns of t e building framework, while the top and bottom edges thereof are formed to respectively constitute a tenon and receiving mortise edge whereby the units may be stacked vertically to any desired height and at the same time automatically provide weather-tight joints. This is a feature of particular importance and of much practical advantage since it permits the construction of buildings to any hei ht without limitation.

addition to the side wall forming units S previousl described, the complete erection of the uilding may also include suitable base and eaves sections. The said base and eaves sections are respectivel desigigure 9 and are equipped at their horizontal edges with the same novel formation set forth in the description of Fi res 2 and 3 to provide the weather-tight orizontal joint. The side flange portions of the base and eaves units are also identical with the side flanges of the units S to properly interlock with the vertical mullions of the framework. In the case of the base member B however, the lower edge thereof ispreferably formed with an inturned horizontal flange 22 for resting upon the building foundation while in the case of the eaves member E, the upper edge ortion thereof is inclined flange 23 aving the intermediate channel 24 for en aging with the roof beams or the like. Furt ermore, as shown in Figure 1, suitable gable panels G also may be rovided with a suitable lll lll

used, the same having their upper edges inclined to suit the pitch of the roof R.

In Figures 10 and '11 of the drawings, a

window-opening flashing unit F is shown,

the same being formed at opposite ends with the end flanges for engaging'with the mullion bars while the upper edge is formed with the head and tongue portion 26 for interfitting with a superposed side wall formin unit. The lower edge portion of the flas ing unit is formed with the pressed outwardly drip. flange portion 27 for protecting the upper edge of the window frame W, shown in dotted lines in Figure 11. 7

From the foregoing, it is believed that the novel and distinctive feature of the present invention, namely, that of providing a side wall forming unit having means for providin an effective horizontal weather-tight joint, Will be readily understood. And, in

. view of the features set forth in connection with .the unit S, it will be apparent that numerous advantages result. Not only is it possible to construct sectional metallic buildings of unlimited height, but also it is possible to reduce the number of parts required to be carried in stock. Sections of the type of the unit S may be manufactured in large quantities and the only special units required to meet .the specifications of individual buildings will be the units adjacent the roof which may vary somewhat according to. the pitch or type of roof.

Without further description, it is thought that other features and advantages of the invention will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and it will, of course, be understood that changes in the form, proportion and minor details of construction may be resorted to Without departing from the spirit of the invention or scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A panel unit for building structures, comprislng a plate having ofi'set rearwardly extending flanges along its vertical edges and an outwardly bent bead, forming a channel in the rear face of its lower horizontal margin and extending longitudinally along the same. a

2. A anel unit for building structures, comprising a plate having oflfset rearwardly extending flanges along its vertical edges and an outwardly bent bead, forming a channel in the rear face of its lower horizontal margin and extending longitudinally alongthe same, said channel being in line with the lower ends of the flanges andter- -minating short of the same.

3.'A panel unit for building structures, comprising a panel unitplate and a clamping plate extending along one margin of the plate andhaving a free resilient portion that clamps upon the margin of an associate plate placed between it and. the first plate, said clamping plate having an outstanding flange that serves to stiffen thepanel unit plate to which the clamping plate is attached.

4. A I panel unit for building structures,

comprising a panel unit plate having oflset of an associate plate, and a clamping plate secured to the unit plate and having a yielding free portion that terminates short of the channel. V

6. A panel unit for building structures, comprising a panel unit plate having a channel in one margin for the reception of a bead of an associate late, and a clamping plate secured to the amt plate and having a yielding free portion that terminates short of the channel, said yielding portion having an outstandin sti-flening flange.

7 In .a buil ing structure, the combination with. associated panel plates, one of which has a marginal channel, the other having a marginal bead that engages in the channel and has .a marginal portion extending beyond the bead, and a clampin plate carried by one of'the panel plates an overlying the marginal portion that extends beyond the interlocked bead and channel. g a 4 8. In a building structure, the combination with associated panel plates having -rearwardly extending side flanges, one of said panel plates having a marginal channel, the other having a marginal head that engages in the channel and has a marginal por-' tion extending beyond the bead between the flan es, and a clamping plate carried by one of t e panel plates between the flanges and overlying the marginal portion that extends beyond the interlocked bead and channel.

9. A panel unit for building structures comprising a plate having flanges along two of its opposite edges, both flanges at one end being of full width and toward the body of the plate inset and the flanges at the other end being cut away. v

" 10. A panel unit for building structures comprising a plate having flanges along two of its opposite edges, the flanges at one end having portions adjacent to the plate inset "to form seats, the outer corners of said flanges at the other end being cut away.

11. A panel unit for building structures comprising a-plate having flanges along two of its opposite edges, said flanges having longitudinally disposed channels, the flanges at clamping angle plate carried thereby one end be' the channels and the flanges at thepther end 'having portions forming the channels and in rear of said channels cut awa 12. A panel unit 'for building structures comprising a pluralit of associated units, each of said units having rearwardly turned flanges along its vertical ed es, one of the units havin a bead exten ing longitudinally along its lower margin, and a yielding along the rear side of said beaded margin between the flanges, the upper margin of the other unit engaging between the lower margin of the first unit and said angle plate and having a bead that interfits with the bead below said interfitting margin of the first unit and is held in said interfitting relation by said angle plate.

13. A panel unit for building structures inset between the plate andv comprising a pluralit of associated units each of said units havin rearwardly turned flanges along its vertica ed es, one of the units having a bead exten ing lon itudinally along its lower margin, and a yieldin clamping angle plate carried thereby an along the rear side of said beaded margin between the flanges, the upper margin of the other unit engaging between the lower maraving a head that interfits with the bead of the first unit and is held in said interfitting THOMAS H. KANE.

gm of the first unit and said angle plate and 

